For the past few weeks, I’ve been creating a 10 part course for anyone that wants to get a better grasp on the Navajo language. Some parts I made didn’t quite fit in under any of the specific topics. One tutorial section called “Starting Your Day” had ideas about waking up, making the bed, going for a run, showering up, and breakfast. This week, I thought I’d share a little of what didn’t quite make it into the course – mostly sets of phrases.

Here is the part that touches on the part of the morning routine where you wake up:

To open your eyes

Níínshch’il.

My eyes are closed.

Dishghaał; or, shináá’ ąą’ áshłééh.

I am opening my eyes.

Shináá’ ąą’ át’é; or, díínísh’į́į́’.

My eyes are open.

To be laying down

Shitsásk’eh bikáa’gi sétį́.

I am laying down on my bed.

Áníídí ch’ééńdzid.

I just woke up.

To be awoken

Nídiidááh.

“Get out of bed.”

T’éénzííd.

“You wake up.”

Náshidiiłt’e’; or, ch’ééh sinńsid.

She woke me up.

Have some fun with these – go crazy! And if you need pronunciations, they’ll be thrown up on the Soundcloud page.

Tutorial sections like this are part of the focus on phrases in the upcoming course. Based on the feedback from all of NavajoWOTD readers, I’ve really tried to think of things you can pick up and use everyday. Please, feel free to give me feedback – it really does help!

The Course

It’s called Better Navajo in 10 Days – think “lesson a day” like “word of the day.” I’ve given it a release date of April 2 (there’s a presale discount if you’re interested). You can find out more by clicking on the link in the sidebar – or below this post (or at this link).

Tomorrow, I’ll share the next section: Make the Bed – movement, blankets, and more!

She’awéé’ means “my baby” and awéé’ yázhí means “little baby”. Although most Navajo babies are born like every other baby, they typically weren’t given names until they have their first laugh.

Names for babies describe the qualities parents want for their child, like strength, happiness, or beauty (as in sunshine). But why wait until they laugh?

Navajos are great observers, so when it came to newborns – and this is supported to modern data on infant mortality – the period between birth and the first laugh is most critical. Without prenatal care or modern monitoring technology, the first laugh was the best marker for Navajos to judge survival. When baby laughs, it’s a sign that she has found a very important lifeline – laughter itself.

Of course, when baby first laughs, a celebration – or ceremony – is held. The one to make baby laughs has the responsibility of making the event happen, because it is said that baby will inherit qualities of that person – and there’s no better trait than generosity.

I’m always very excited to see new Navajo language learning material online. A lot of this goes back to why I started NavajoWOTD – to contribute to more material for people to learn.

Now, Kasandra Nelson has created a series of ebooks in the Navajo language called Áłchíní Binaaltsoos – or Children’s Books. From her site, Kasandra is Kiiyaa’áanii and comes from Lók’aanteel. I noticed a post in the great Dine Bizaad Facebook group, and even my mother showed me the site.

The ebooks are presented in Navajo, followed by English meanings. Kasandra has made six titles available for personal or classroom use, and can be downloaded in PDF format. Additionally, the webpage for the ebooks features interactive flipbook-style reading options, as well as YouTube videos with narration. They’re easy to follow along – and for once it’s great to hear other voices narrating Navajo words*.

The titles include:

Shighangone’ – In My Home

Sam Yinishyé – My Name is Sam

Tsís’ná Bitł’izh – Honey

Láshgaan Bee Yiilchíhí – Nail Polish

Ayóó’ Áníínísh’ní – I Love You

Additionally, there’s a print book available for purchase, which helps support the work Kasandra is doing:

On one hand it can refer to something that’s attractive, and on the other it refers to something that is good.

This is because the Navajo idea of beauty goes beyond appearances. Beauty is a sense of being, and is comprised of harmony and balance that is felt within. Things outside of our own minds can remind us of that beauty, and those things we call nizhóní.

Modern day Navalish (a term for Navajo-English slang that I just made up) has a similar word – nizhóníful. You get the idea there…

To tell someone you think they’re beautiful, the second person form is nízhóní. As you can imagine, this term is related to hózhó, which is harmony. That word has deeper meanings, and is often equated with the Navajo way of life.

(I have a bit of a sore-throat today, so the audio quality might be a little off – Byron)

Animals are considered beings, like people. Bears, though, should be considered like humans. In the cultural way, looking directly at someone is impolite because it often seems as if you’re staring, and therefore criticizing. Stories teach that bears should be respected in that way.

Bears are known to inhabit the mountains. When you consider the word for mountain, dził, notice that it is related to bidziil, which is a word for strength. The “One who walks on the mountain” is, in many ways, a symbol of strength and protection. In this way, bears are traditionally viewed as sacred.

In the Navajo clanship system, the bear is the clan protector given to the Towering House clan, Kin Yaa’áanii. People of this clan are said to inherit qualities of leadership, such as a considerate mentality. Other qualities, such as ferocity or moood, are somewhat associated with bears, also.